And it’s Fall

: I’ve discovered that the tree in our backyard has forgotten that fall is a sort of  slow process.  You know, the leaves change, things are pretty for a while and even though it’s getting colder, you get a sort of calm before the snow, as it were.  Since we all complain the minute the weather isn’t a balmy 80*, we at least get to enjoy the pretty colors before it becomes snowy and cold– Or arctic if you happen to live in the midwest.  Like me.  Buuuut.  As I said, the tree out back– forgot.

Yesterday morning, I let the dogs out to do their thing and I could see the yard.  The grass was still pretty green, it was at least nice out and I didn’t think anything of it.  I went to class, came home, let the dogs out again… I could barely find the back deck.  It was like a reanactment of the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree…  It just dropped everything it had, all at once and now it’s naked.

Bet it’s embarrassed about that.

Well, thanks to that, Paisley was able to enjoy her first pile-jumping day.  The leaves are stacked so high that in some areas that it almost reached her chest.  Since I was elated to have completed my finals today AND receiving an A on an IEP (if you’re a teacher you know what this is) development I had been ripping my hair out over, I thought it would be nice to enjoy the day with my puppies.  Paisley was doing belly flops into the leaves, Faith was worrying as usual and Yuri was just trying to stay out of it.

: De weaves awe so high!  I was afwaid she would get wost!

: Some days, I wish she would get lost out there, but that’s only when she’s acting like a maniac… Because, people– I’m tired.  We all are, I don’t know if it’s because we’re out of practice or because she’s a mix of two really energetic breeds– or both.  I don’t know.  I’m just tired.  I can’t keep up with her.

: I can.

: Not by much.  You’re not a puppy anymore you know.

: Why do you say dese huwtful tings?

: Sorry– you’re very energetic and all, but you’re a… Mature dog, she’s got a ridiculous amount of energy.

: Yeah… Dat is twue… I’m always tiwed when we go to bed.

: Exactly.

Spending time with them this afternoon was fun though and I’m glad I had the time to do it.  It was really nice out, the sun was shining and my puppies were having a good day.  And now that I don’t have 600 hundred papers due all at the same time, I’m able to enjoy it.  And take pictures.

:0)

Baby's first leaves.

Dat squirrel is gonna getz it.

I wuv you!

My pretty girl!

I feel wike SINGING!

: Oh my gawd… You said you wouwdn’t put dis one up!

: Oh, it’s cute, don’t worry.

*Faceplant*

I wuv weaves!

WEAAAAAAAVEESS!

DON'TYOUWUVWEAVESDONCHYADONCHYA!!??

I'm not in a Leaf kind of mood.

I don't understand women.

Hope everyone’s having a good week so far and is enjoying the fall.  Pretty soon I’ll be reporting Paisley’s reaction to a good snowstorm so enjoy it while you can.

: Yeah, I’m weally gwad I got a new coat fow de winter!  I have no fuw, I fweeze in de winter!

Until then!

Jaina & Faith

With a Feather in her… Nose…

: Ok… So, I’m a really terrible blogger.  For whatever reason (*cough* I’m lazy *cough*) I have a hard time getting my act together.  I’m sorry.  Also, not a lot has been going on, other than me losing my mind in my current college course.  Believe me, it shouldn’t be this hard, but apparently it has to be.

: Appawentwee, educmuhcation is mowe impowtant den puppies and squeakies, but down’t twy tewwing hew dat.

: Let’s not start on that again.  In any case, it’s been kind of on the low-down around here.  Paisley is settling in pretty well, she already knows how to sit, lay down, roll over, shake and is working on sitting pretty.  But, she’s still definitely got baby fat, so she’s got a serious case of puppy butt.  Meaning she gets about half way up and then rolls backwards.  It’s cute in a sad little way.   The potty training is slow, but she’s done pretty well the last few days.  As far as I can tell, no new messes, but I haven’t been home 100% of the time.

: She steaws my towys…  And she bites me.  I dunno why.

: I’m sure it’s a sign of affection.

: Yeah… I kinda wike hew too… It’s wike a mini-me!

: I know and I’m exhausted.

Anyway, the shelter we adopted Paisley from has a board at the front desk called “Happy Tails”, where they post photos of the animals who have been adopted and are now living, hopefully, happy lives.  they asked me a few weeks ago if I would send them a photo of Paisley for the board since it looks like she’s going to be sticking around.  I have a lot of photos of her already but I wanted to get a family photo of her with Faith and Yuri.  You know, since they’ll be living together for a while.

How’d it turn out?

CHEEEEEEESEEEEE!

I’d like to say that my dog’s are perfect.  They sit when I tell them to, they smile when I tell them to– in fact, no command is too much…

Nevermind...

… to ignore…  I really hate it when they do that.  Well, before they scattered and tried to drag my poor boyfriend off the deck, just for being a sport and helping me do this, as I’ve been saying for days now that I wanted to do this photo (maybe just to shut me up?) and the weather had not been cooperating.  We live in Iowa, the first day of winter isn’t complete without a snowstorm and power outages.  It was finally sunny out and I had a weekend off for a change, it was going to happen eventually.

Clearly I overworked my furry friends because about ten minutes later they were passed out on my bed:

Sooooo tired-- Note the puppy butt

For the record, I just realized in most of my photos my sheets are the same…  I promise, they’ve been washed, in fact a week before this photo they were pink sheets.  Just in case anyone thought I had issues with that.

Awww. Still sooo sweepy...

And this just killed me.  As I was taking photos of Paisley sleeping, I realized there was a feather sticking up her nose that apparently wasn’t interrupting her sleep.

See what I mean?

*snorebeepdebeepbedebeeepde* *tickletickletickle* *snorebeepdebeepbedebeeepde*

After telling my mom, she said she wished I had caught it on video.  Now I do too…  Because it would have been hilarious.

I know.  I’m lame.

Anyway, just wanted to share that.  I entered a photo contest a few days ago and I’m hoping, if I win (fat chance) I’ll get a Nikon D90…. Most excellent.  We’ll see what happens, it’ll be a while before I find out, like January or something.  I’ve entered a few photos of Paisley, Yuri and myself and some flower photos.  I had a few others I wanted to add, but I missed the regular entry date and the fees went up.  Depends on if I want to spend more money on it.  I have no idea how well it’ll improve my chances.

I’ll try to keep y’all up to date.

Until then!

Jaina & Faith (oh and Yuri & Paisley too)